1970 was quite the year for transgendered films. Yesterday's Dinah East reminded me of this biopic about the first transsexual, Christine Jorgensen (John Hansen). It chronicles her life and transition from male to female at a time when sexual roles were highly stereotyped in society. Add to that the fact that this procedure had never been done before and you have a sensation in the making. Jorgensen became a very unwilling subject of media attention and the butt of countless jokes, but her bravery in living out her destiny paved the way for many people to follow.
What's most remarkable to me about this film is that it was directed by Irving Rapper, who directed Now Voyager with Bette Davis. The subject is handled sensitively and the acting is good. The production values are mediocre and the marketing campaign was exploitative. It's worth a look though, as another early attempt at understanding alternative lifestyles.
Trailer provided by Video Detective
This film has yet to be released on DVD, though you can get a copy at iOffer.com and it can be watched in full on Netflix streaming. The trailer is above, uploaded to Video Detective. The poster above is available from MoviePosterShop.com.
Obscurity factor: 7 (not on DVD, available on Netflix, has cult following)
